Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Matthew 12:5

MATTHEW—NOTE ON Matthew 12:5 To carry out their duties, priests had to work on the Sabbath (and thus “profane” it). That they were guiltless in doing so shows that God made allowances within the law.

⇐ ⇔ ⇒
Continues after advertising

See also Matthew 12:5 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Matthew 12:5. _THE PRIESTS - PROFANE THE SABBATH_] _Profane_, i.e. put it to what might be called a _common use_, by _slaying_ and _offering_ up sacrifices, and by doing the _services_ of the t...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    HOW HE ENTERED INTO THE HOUSE OF GOD - That is, the “tabernacle,” the temple not being then built. HAVE YE NOT READ IN THE LAW? - In the law, or in the books of Moses. PROFANE THE SABBATH - He referr...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    9. THE REJECTION CONSUMMATED AND THE BROKEN RELATIONSHIP. CHAPTER 12 1. The Hungry Disciples and the Accusing Pharisees. (Matthew 12:1 .) 2. The Man with the Withered Hand Healed.(Matthew 12:10 .) 3...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    SABBATH OBSERVANCE (Mark 2:23 *, Luke 6:1). The incident shows that the disciples were learning their Master's teaching. Deuteronomy 23:25 allowed the practice, but the Rabbinical objection to it on t...

  • B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary

    HAVE YE, NOT READ... THE PRIESTS... PROFANE THE SABBATH? Christ adds another argument, that every Sabbath the priests in the temple break the ordinary Sabbath law, the Sabbath being their busiest day...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    CRISIS (Matthew 12:1-50) In Matthew 12:1-50 we read the history of a series of crucial events in the life of Jesus. In every man's life there are decisive moments, times and events on which the whole...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    At that time Jesus went through the cornfields on the Sabbath day. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, ...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    IN THE LAW. See note on Matthew 5:17. Compare Numbers 28:9; Numbers 28:10 and App-143. THE SABBATH. (Numbers 28:9;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _the priests in the temple profane the sabbath_ by labour in removing the shewbread, preparing fire for the sacrifice, and performing the whole temple service. "Not merely does the sacred _history_rel...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Matthew 12:1-13. The Observance of the Sabbath 1. The disciples pluck ears of corn on the Sabbath. 2. A man with a withered hand cured on the Sabbath. St Mark 2:23-28; Mark 3:1-5; St...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    THE OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἈΝΈΓΝΩΤΕ. For the aor. see ch. Matthew 5:21 and Matthew 11:27. ΒΕΒΗΛΟΥ͂ΣΙΝ. By labour in removing the shewbread, preparing fire for the sacrifice, and performing the whole temple service. ‘Not merely...

  • Catena Aurea Commentary

    Ver 1. At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE PHARISEES REJECTED THE SAVIOR MATTHEW 12:1-21_ : The Bible is plain in showing that it is wrong to fail to be as strict as God intents. But, the Bible also shows that it is wrong to be stricter t...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΒΕΒΗΛΟΎΣΙΝ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΒΕΒΗΛΌΩ (G953) профанировать, делать обыденным. _Praes._ указывает на постоянное или привычное действие, ΆΝΑΊΤΙΟΣ (G338) невиновный, невинный. Требования церковной сл...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    OR HAVE YE NOT READ IN THE LAW, &C.— He did not mean that these words were to be found in the law, but that they might read in the law, that the priests were obliged on the sabbath-day to perform such...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    SECTION 26 JESUS ANSWERS CHARGES OF SABBATH BREAKING (Parallels: Mark 2:23 to Mark 3:6; Luke 6:1-11) TEXT: 12:1-14 I. SUSPICION 1. At that season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grain-f...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? OR HAVE YE NOT READ IN THE LAW, HOW THAT ON THE SABBATH DAYS THE PRIES...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    27 See Joh_3:35; Joh_17:2. 28 It is this God-consciousness, this recognition of His hand in all things, and more especially in that which is opposed to His apparent will, which gives His slaves heart'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PLUCKING CORN ON THE SABBATH. BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST 1-8. Plucking the corn on the sabbath (Mark 2:23; Luke 6:1). This chapter begins the period of active conflict with the Pharisees. It is...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    MATTHEW’S GOOD NEWS MATTHEW’S *GOSPEL _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 12 QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO USE GOD’S REST DAY 12:1-14 Matthew gives two examples of the ‘*yoke’ of the *Jewish law: 1. The *disciples...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE PRIESTS IN THE TEMPLE PROFANE THE SABBATH. — The work of the priests, as described, _e.g.,_ in Numbers 28:9, viz., slaying victims, placing the shewbread, involved an amount of labour which, in wo...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Chapter 10 The Shadow of the Cross - Matthew 11:1; Matthew 12:1 I-DISCOURAGEMENTS. Matthew 11:1 HITHERTO almost everything has been hopeful and encouraging in our Evangelist's record of the Saviour'...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _Plucking ears of corn on the Sabbath_ (Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5). Sabbath observance was one of the leading causes of conflict between Jesus and the guardians of religion and morality. This is the fi...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _Christ's defence_. It is twofold. (1) He shields disciples by examples: David and the priests; to both the faultfinders would defer (Matthew 12:3-5); (2) He indicates the principles involved in the e...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    his reference to the priests naturally leads on to the second instance taken from their systematic breach of the technical Sabbath law in the discharge of sacerdotal duty. ἢ οὐκ ἀνέγνωτε, have ye not...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE RIGHT USE OF THE SABBATH Matthew 12:1-14 The Pharisees had introduced a large number of minute and absurd restrictions on Sabbath observance; so our Lord set Himself to recover the day of rest fo...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This chapter chronicles direct attacks on Christ. The first was petty and foolish. It is on the question of the Sabbath. The Master gives to His people the true conception of the sanctity of the Sabba...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple (b) profane the sabbath, and are blameless? (b) When the priests do God's service on the sabbath day, they do no...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _ Break the sabbath; i.e. they do that, which if the divine worship did not require, would not be allowed on the sabbath, as the work they do, of its own nature, is servile._...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    CHAPTER 14 JESUS RETURNS TO GALILEE Matthew 12:1-18; Mark 2:23-28, and Luke 6:1-5. We find that our Lord spent but two weeks at Jerusalem during this tour, preaching and working miracles all the time...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Chapter 8, which opens the portion that comes before us tonight, is a striking illustration as well as proof of the method which God has been pleased to employ in giving us the apostle Matthew's accou...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    5._That on the Sabbaths the priests profane the Sabbath. _This is the _second _argument by which Christ proves that the violation of the Sabbath, of which the Pharisees complained, was free from all b...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    At length the rejection of the nation, in consequence of their contempt of the Lord, is plainly shewn, as well as the cessation of all His relations with them as such, in order to bring out on God's p...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    OR HAVE YE NOT READ IN THE LAW,.... Numbers 28:9 by which law the priests were obliged, every sabbath day, to offer up two lambs for a burnt offering; to which were annexed many servile works, as kill...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? Ver. 5. _Profane the Sabbath_] As ye count profaning of it: or they prof...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Have ye not read in the law_, &c. He does not mean that the words following were to be found in the law, but only that they might read in the law, how the priests were obliged, on the sabbath days, t...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    READ IN THE LAW; NUMBERS 28:9-10. PROFANE THE SABBATH; do what would have profaned it, had not the appropriate duties of the Sabbath required that labor. The Saviour refers to the killing and dressin...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Or have ye not read in the Law how on the Sabbath days the priests in the Temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? Jesus had a most disconcerting way of quoting Scripture to His enemies, which u...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The objection of the Pharisees:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    We have seen that Matthew groups events with a dispensational end in view, and chapter 12 shows a building up on Israel's part to a state of utter rejection of their Messiah. The expression "at that t...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-8 Being in the corn-fields, the disciples began to pluck the ears of corn: the law of God allowed it, Deuteronomy 23:25. This was slender provision for Christ and his disciples; but they were conte...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Neither Mark nor Luke have this argument of our Saviour s. The meaning is, all acts of servile labour are not unlawful on the sabbath day. The priests, according to the law, NUMBERS 28:9, offer sacrif...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Irenaeus Against Heresies Book V I have shown that all the disciples of the Lord are Levites and priests, they who used in the temple to profane the Sabbath, but are blameless.[313] Victorinus On th...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Matthew 12:5 Or G2228 have G314 not G3756 read G314 (G5627) in G1722 law G3551 that G3754 Sabbath...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    “Or have you not read in the law, that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless?” But he also has a second argument (which is not mentioned in Mark and Luke)...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    CONTROVERSY WITH THE PHARISEES ABOUT THE SABBATH. THE SON OF MAN IS LORD OF THE SABBATH (12:1-16). In the last passage Matthew has depicted words of Jesus concerning the heavy burden of the Law and th...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE INCIDENT IN THE GRAINFIELDS (12:1-8). The first incident arises when Jesus and His disciples are walking through some grainfields. Being hungry they pluck some of the grain, and eat it. This is t...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    CHRONOLOGY. Mark and Luke place the events of this section just before the _choice of the Twelve_, which occurred during our Lord's retirement. The season of the year may have been April, at which tim...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Matthew 12:5. THE PRIESTS IN THE TEMPLE PROFANE THE SABBATH AND ARE BLAMELESS? Peculiar to Matthew. On the Sabbath the priests must change the shewbread, and offer double offerings. That construction...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jesus announces Himself Lord of Sabbath, Controversy with Pharisees. Healing of the withered hand. A demoniac healed. The unpardonable sin. Death and resurrection foretold. Deficiency of sel...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Matthew 12:2. _Thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath- day._ The pharisees did not find fault with eating a few ears of barley in their hunger, while others enjoyed their fea...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    OR HAVE YOU NOT READ. The Sabbath was the busiest day for the Priests, who technically were in violation of the Sabbath Law, because of the work they were doing on that day. (_compare_ John 7:22-23)....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Behold Thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day._ 1. It is no new thing to see men who are otherwise learned, and are in account for their holiness in the church, to be a...

  • The Gospels Compared

    THE DISCIPLES PICK WHEAT ON THE SABBATH MATTHEW 12:1-8; MARK 2:23-28; LUKE 6:1-5; MATTHEW 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day throug

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    1-50 CHAPTER XII. _At that time Jesus went through the corn fields_ (Through the crops of corn becoming white, or ripe), &c. Luke adds that this Sabbath was the first from the second (_Vulg_.); which...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 12:1. PLUCK THE EARS OF CORN.—See Deuteronomy 23:25. Matthew 12:3. WHAT DAVID DID.—David’s action was not an apparent contravention of the Sabbath-law, but an apparent contra...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION MATTHEW 12:1 The opposition that our Lord met with (1) from his enemies (Matthew 12:1); (2) from his relations (Matthew 12:46-4

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn to the twelfth chapter of the gospel of Matthew? Jesus was not one to follow traditions. He's already pointed out in the Sermon on the Mount, that through their interpretation of the law...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Ezekiel 24:21; John 7:22; John 7:23; Nehemiah 13:17; Numbers 28:10;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The priests in the temple profane the Sabbath — That is, do their ordinary work on this, as on a common day, cleansing all things, and preparing the sacrifices. A greater than the temple — If therefor...

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    Did Jesus’ disciples break the Jewish Sabbath law? PROBLEM: Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). Yet Jesu...

Continues after advertising